In preparation for the upcoming 2026 season, numerous rumours have circulated from various sources about what Formula 1 will look like. More importantly, however, is what order the teams will be in next year. There is a high expectation for all Mercedes-powered teams, as they are considered the best at this time.
Although we might have to watch out for another team, Toto Wolff, who is team principal and part-owner of Mercedes’ F1 team, has warned competitors that there might be a team other than the usual favourites to have an edge when it comes to raw power and reliability from the mechanical parts of the car.
The dark horse that could make life difficult in 2026
In recent days, Toto Wolff has spoken to the media about many different topics. Including what Mercedes will look like next, its lineup specifically, and what the grid will look like. When asked about the engines and their suppliers, he had something interesting to say:
“I expect Ferrari to be very competitive, and Honda has shown its strength, so I expect a lot from them with Aston Martin. Everyone wants to be ready and competitive, and we’ll see who’s worked best.”
While Ferrari has always been strong and competitive, as showcased in the two most recent regulation changes. Always fighting at the top but not quite the strongest. A surprise, however, is the mention of Aston Marti,n which will be powered by Honda engines from next year onwards.
Bringing double points home from Hungary. 🤝#HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/Sv83UH8zgs
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) August 3, 2025
As of 2025, Aston Martin is still powered by Mercedes, and they haven’t managed to produce much until the most recent Grand Prix in Hungary, where the pair qualified 5th and 6th and finished 5th and 7th for a season-best result that came as a shock to everyone.
Unknowns, Speculations, and Predictions shroud the 2026 season in mystery
Just as Mercedes was the big surprise of 2014 when the Turbo Hybrid era ran its first laps, they were also the big surprise in 2022 when they failed horribly to give Hamilton and Russell a car to defend their 8 consecutive Constructors’ title win streak. This shows that whenever regulations change, it’s quite the lottery. If you go bravely, you could dominate. But if you miss the mark just a little bit, all hope is lost for that year.
While both Fernando Alonso and Honda have seen quite some success in recent years, with Alonso’s amazing 2023 season scoring 8 podiums for Aston Martin and Honda’s amazing engines powering Red Bull since 2019, ending at the end of the 2025 season. There was a time when the two didn’t go together. Back in 2015, when both parties were partnered with McLaren, Alonso couldn’t wait to get rid of the Honda engine.
‘GP2 Engine! GP2!’ – When Fernando Alonso Alonso Publicly Shamed Honda in Front of Millions
These times have passed, and Honda has become the staple of reliability in Formula 1 in recent years. However, a warning from Toto Wolff can never be discarded as the F1 veteran is right more often than not.
While Wolff is also trying to shift the spotlight to any team but Mercedes, there is only one way to discover which team has all their ducks in a row. Watch Melbourne in 2026 to see who lifts the largest trophy after 58 laps of on-track action.
